Method of making a sliding surface bearing



June 14, 1966 R. H. JOSEPHSON T A 3,255,510

METHOD OF MAKING A SLIDING SURFACE BEARING Original Filed Sept. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ROBERT H. JOSEPHSON JOHN E. STRICKLIN BY 2 f AT ORNE FIG.5

June 14, 1966 R. H. JOSEPHSON ET AL 3,255,510

METHOD OF MAKING A SLIDING SURFACE BEARING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed. Sept. 13, 1963 FIG.6

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June 14, 1966 JQSEPHSON ET AL 3,255,510

METHOD OF MAKING A SLIDING SURFACE BEARING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 15, 1963 FIGJO FIG.||

INVENTORS ERT H. JOSEPHSON N E.STRICKL|N ROB JOH ATTORNEY United States Patent 10 Claims. (Cl. 29-1495) This application is a division of application Serial No. 308,863, filed September 13, 1963, for Sliding Surface Bearing and Method of Making Same.

Invention pertains to a method of making a sliding surface, hydrodynam-ically lubricated bearing, which hearing may be an open bearing, or it may be a self-contained or package bearing wherein the life-time lubricant supply is sealed into the hearing. A self-contained bearing involves the fabrication and assembly of substantially all cornponents which affect its performance and the open hearing has one less factor under its control; however, both types have all of the sliding surface components carefully controlled.

In the past there have been two distinctly different broad types of bearings each of which had its own field of use, and the fields did not appreciably overlap one another. These two broad types of bearings are known as the rolling contact bearing (sometimes erroneously called anti-friction bearings) and the sliding surface or sleeve bearing (sometimes erroneously called a friction bearing).

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for making a sliding surface bearing of a given size wherein the bearing will replace a rolling contact hearing such as a ball bearing of the same or larger size, and will out-perform the rolling contact bearing in many important factors.

. Some of the important factors wherein the present sliding surface bearing outperforms a ball bearing of the same size are the following:

(1) The fatigue characteristics of the sliding surface bearing of this invention are extremely good because it may have only one moving part, and when the bearing is unidirectionally loaded the bearing material is always stressed in the same direction, in contrast to a rolling contact bearing, and the amount of this load does not fluctuate cyclically as in a rolling contact bearing. For a given load and speed the cyclic stress level in a ball bearing might be 250,000 p.s.i.; whereas, in the bearing of the present invention there is no cyclic stress on the bearing material.

(2) The bearing of the present invention is much more tolerant to dirt than is a rolling contact bearing.

(3) The noise level of the present bearing is very low compared to the noise level of rolling contact bearings, especially at the higher frequencies because of the absence of microgeometry effects associated with rolling elements.

(4) The sliding surface bearing of the present invention can be made with corrosion resistant and/or nonmagnetic inner and outer races with substantially no loss in load and/or fatigue characteristics; whereas, when a ball bearing is made corrosion resistant by the use of stainless steel races, its fatigue life goes down by a significant factor.

All rolling contact bearings are detrimentally affected ice by shook loads which are transmitted from one race to the other through the rolling contact elements. The bearing of the present invention is not nearly so subject to damage due to shock loads because of a thin oil film which is always present during proper operating conditions.

While some of these advantages are shared with the well known sleeve hearing which is much larger in size, for a given load, than the present sliding surface bearing, the bearing of this invention has numerous advantages over the sleeve bearing. Among them are:

(l) The present bearing is much more accurate than the sleeve bearing.

(2) It is much smaller than the usual sleeve bearing for a given load.

(3) The engineer who uses the bearing can select a shelf item, similar to the selection of a proper rolling contact bearing. 0

(4) The present hearing may be self-contained, i.e., it may have its own built-in lifetime supply of oil, often leading to greatly reduced cost by eliminating an oil flow system.

(5) The present bearing is independent of the shaft material and finish.

The present bearing is not a self-aligning bearing like a rod-end bearing, but because of its short length compared to the usual sleeve bearing and because of its contour it has a degree of self alignment ability which can exceed or be comparable to a ball bearing. This limited ability, however, is far superior to the self alignment ability of prior art sleeve bearings.

The present hearing will take thrust on its regular hearing surface, and thus extra flange bearing surfaces are not needed, thereby greatly reducing the cost of a sliding surface bearing which will take a certain degree of thrust load.

The bearing ofthe present invention has lower friction losses than prior art sleeve bearings, and in certain ranges of speed and load conditions it may have lower friction losses than comparable ball bearings.

In conventional wick-fed or self-lubricating sleeve hearing technology, a limit of approximately -200 p.s.i cannot be exceeded at 200-500 ft. per minute. However, with a bearing of the present invention it is possible to reliably operate at least 10-20 times this normal loading. This result is obtained because of the unique combination of bearing structure and microgeometry of that structure. This bearing configuration provides the ability to operate at extremely thin oil film thicknesses with resultant minimum heat generation and maximum load-carrying capacity.

These characteristics in combination with the bearing structure and a material providing maximum heat transferability as well as excellent anti seizure boundary characteristics under thin film conditions result in operating characteristics far beyond prior art sleeve bearings. Because the described high performance level can be maintained with substantially hydrodynamic operation, no deterioration, such as wear or fatigue of the bearing occurs. Thus, the bearing life is limited only by its lubricant sup ply in contrast to rolling contact bearings with their inherent fatigue life limitations.

Thus, there is provided, for the first time, a sliding surface bearing whose size is comparable to or smaller than a ball bearing, and which will carry for longer periods 3 loads comparable to or exceeding loads carried by the ball bearing.

A measure of performance for self-lubricating sliding surface bearings is called the -PV rating. This rating is the product of the load in pounds per square inch multiplied by the surface velocity in ft./min. Typical PV ratings for various kinds of bearings are as follows:

Nylon bearing 2,000- 5,000 Teflon bearing 5,000- 15,000 Porous oil filled bronze 50,000- 75,000 Wick-lubricated sleeve bearin 100,000- 200,000 The sliding surface, hydrodynamically lubricated bearing of the present invention 2,000,0005,000,000

In installations having a certain amount of air circulation, as in an automobile generator, PV ratings of 10,000,000 have been reached. Prior art bearings do not have the ability to take the generated heat away to a location where fan circulation of air will do much good.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sliding surface bearing which is hydrodynamically lubricated, which bearing is in many respects which have been listed above, superior to a rolling contact bearing, and which is also in many respects, above listed, superior to conventional sleeve bearings.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sliding surface hearing which is hydrodynamically lubricated, which bearing is in many respects which have been listed above, superior to a rolling contact bearing, and which is also in many respects, above listed, superior to a sleeve bearing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel method of making a high performance, relatively inexpensive, sliding surface bearing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sliding surface bearing, and the method of making same,'which is inexpensive, which has a high PV rating, which will take thrust, which has excellent fatigue and corrosion resistant properties, and which has very low heat generating characteristics and which has very high loadcarrying capacity.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the method of making a sliding surface bearing wherein the races and the bearing material are economically formed to very close tolerances which result in a capability of operating with very thin oil' film for hydrodynamic 1ubrication, with consequent low heat generation and high load capacity.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a high speed, high load bearing which is very low in its noise and vibration generation, especially at higher speeds, and which has no cyclic stress in the bearing material resulting in excellent fatigue characteristics.

Another aspect of the invention lies in the method of making a sliding surface bearing wherein there is provided an inner bearing race and an outer bearing race around the inner race. The inner race has a raceway such as a groove in its face which is opposite the outer race, and the outer race is formed at least in part of metallic base bearing material which. is more readily formable than the material of the inner bearing race. This bearing material is located immediately around the raceway in the inner race. formed to cause it to flow radially into the groove in the inner race to lock the two races together against axial movement in respect to each other. Thereafter one or both of the race means is deformed within its elastic limit to stress the bearing material beyond its elastic limit to establish a small, carefully controlled, finite clearance at the raceway to free the bearing for rotary motion of one race in respect to the other race.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference The bearing material is deis had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1'-1 of FIGURE 2, showing a bearing embodying the invention mounted between a shaft and a housing;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view showing a separate ring of bearing material before fabrication of the bearing;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view showing a modified form of the bearing before coining wherein the ring of bearing material may be comprised of several parts;

FIGURE 4-A is a view of still another form of the earing ring after fabrication;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric, partially broken away, view of another form of the bearing where the outer race and the ring of bearing material are integral; this view shows the integral race and ring prior to final shaping;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view showing the assembled bearing;

FIGURE 7 is an isometric, partially broken away view, showing the assembled bearing with one seal removed and with some of the lubricant removed'to show the interior;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken through apparatus which is assembling the bearing;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 10 showing the step in the process of making the bearing wherein the inner race is expanded to provide running clearance in the bearing;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 9 showing, to an exaggerated extent, the distortion of the inner race to obtain running clearance; and

of obtaining running clearance in the bearing.

With reference to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 show the bearing of this invention mounted on a shaft 10 and within a housing 11, a typical bearing installation.

The bearing is an integrated assembly which comprises cylindrical inner bearing race member means 12 and an annular outer bearing race member means 13 around the inner race 12. A ring of bearing material 14 is positioned between the inner and outer races. As shown in FIGURE 1 the ring 14 of bearing material is effectively connected to the outer race 13 and its inner face 15 forms a sliding surface bearing interface with the inner race 12. There is a very small, carefully controlled, finite space at the bearing interface between the bearing ring 14 and the inner race. groove 16 (see FIGURE 4') into which the bearing material 14 extends. This permits the bearing to take axial thrust and locks the inner race and the outer race together against axial motion while allowing for a small degree of self-alignment. The method of forming the bearing material into the groove is hereafter fully described. The ring 14 of bearing material preferably has a plurality of slots 17 in its inner face 15, and the slots are filled with a lubricating material such as grease or oilsoaked wicking material 18. Thus the lubricant such as the wicking material 18 is in engagement with the load bearing face of the inner race 12. The axial length of the ring 14 of bearing material is shorter than the axial length of the inner and outer races 12,13 establishing annular spaces at each side of the ring 14, and these spaces are-filled with the lubricant such as the oil-soaked wicking material 18. Thus the wicking material in the slots 17 is in engagement with the relatively large masses 18 of the wicking material positioned against the edge faces of the bearing ring 14, as shown in the upper half of FIGURE 1.

It has been found with a lubricant filled wicking ma terialproperly disposed, thatthe lubricant is re-circulated FIGURE 11 is a sectional view showing another way Preferably the inner race has a through a continuous supply and scavaging path, consisting of wick-filled slots in the bearing surface, connected to the annular wick-filled spaces adjacent thereto. The oil in the wicking material in the slots is wiped on the journal, finds its way or is squeezed to the outer edges of the running surface where it is absorbed by the juxtaposed wicking material from where it is wicked back to the material in the slots. The annular spaces which are wick-filled further distribute the oil circumferentially, which counters the natural action of hydrodynamic operation which tends to unbalance the circumferential oil distribution by drawing oil from the unloaded area and discharging excess oil adjacent the highly loaded areas.

Sealing means 21) are mounted between the inner and outer races to hold the wicking material in place and to keep dust and dirt out of the bearing. The sealing means may comprise a metal shield forced into engagement with the outer race and it may have a slight clearance at the inner race, or it may comprise a rubber sealing ring mounted on one of the races and in highly loaded en gagement with the other race.

As shown in FIGURES l and 2 the ring 14 of bearing material may be a piece separate from the inner and outer races 12, 13. However, one of the bearing race means, preferably the outer race, may be formed of bearing .material and in that event a separate bearing ring is not needed. As shown in FIGURE 5 the outer race 13' and the bearing ring 14' are integral, being formed of a material which is suitable for hearing applications. An inner race similar to the inner race 12 is provided for the device shown in FIGURE 5. The ring 14 is formed into the groove 16 in the inner race, as will hereafter be described, and the device contains lubricant such as grease or oil-soaked wicking material and is sealed as described in connection with the device shown in FIG- URE 1.

In some specific applications it may be preferable not to use a one piece annulus of bearing material. In such applications a multi-segmented annulus may be used with some consequent disadvantages such as reduction of dimensional integrity, reduction in heat transferability, increased cost and increased complexity.

FIGURE 4 shows a ring of bearing material which is made of three separate parts 14" forming effectively a complete annulus. The inner race 12 and the outer race 13 and the other portions of the bearing are the same as that shown in FIGURE 1. If a split ring is to be used it is convenient, though not essential, to divide the ring at the slots 17. FIGURE 4A shows another form of the bearing ring. It is split into a plurality of segments as in the device shown in FIGURE 4. However, since it is split into segments the bearing material need not be forced into the groove 16 in the inner race during the assembly process as is hereafter described in connection with the formation of a solid one-piece annulus of bearing material. In the device shown in FIGURE 4A the inner face 9, which together with the face of groove 16 forms the bearing interface, is carefully formed to match the raceway of the inner race, such, for example, as the groove 16 prior to assembly. The segments are then assembled into the inner race 16 and the outer race 13 is then applied around the bearing ring.

Since the bearing of the present invention is primarily designed to replace the common rolling contact hearing it has a complete annulus or ring 14 of bearing material, and it can be mounted between a shaft and a housing 11 without any regard to position; i.e., there is no requirement to keep a certain portion of the bearing above the shaft. The bearing has only one moving part. The inner'race 12 rotates with the shaft 10. The bearing ring 14 does not rotate unless the design is that of a fullfioating bearing. Consequently, when the shaft is always loaded in one given direction, only an arcuate portion of the bearing ring is compressed, and the load on that portion remains substantially constant. Thus there is no appreciable rapid cyclic stress variation on the bearing ring, and consequently fatigue failure is not a problem. Since not over 180 of the ring is under stress it is not essential that the bearing ring extend around the full 360 degrees. However, if the bearing ring does not extend the full 360 degrees care must be exercised in mounting the bearing to assure that the partial ring of bearing material is located between the shaft and the housing at the location of the load. Also, in this event, care must be exercised in the design of the unit to assure that the segment of bearing material is integral with or is secured to the outer race to prevent its movement within the bearing. Also, the outside face of the bearing should be marked to identify the location of the bearing material or to assure that the bearing is mounted properly between the shaft and the housing.

In th preferred process of manufacture of the bearing, the inner race 12 is made of steel, and it is made with a high degree of concentricity and with a high degree of surface smoothness where the bearing material is to slide. The inner race should be the substantial equivalent of a rolling contact bearing race as to general size and shape. For maximum performance it is necessary to establish a high degree of perfection of the microgeometry of the inner raceway. This degree of perfection is related to the minimum film expected in operation under the most severe conditions. Under these severe conditions it is necessary that the inner raceway have a microgeometry beyond that normally associated with a precision rolling contact hearing. If the inner race is grooved care should be taken to assure that the arc of the groove is uniform all the way round the periphery. A ring 14 of bearing material as shown in FIGURE 3 is placed around the inner race, and an outer race 13 of steel is placed around the ring of bearing material. The loosely assembled parts are placed in a press, as shown in FIGURE 8, with a supporting shaft 25 through the hole in the inner race.

The outer race is supported completely around its periphery by a strong collar or chuck 26. The bearing material is then squeezed between upper and lower jaws 27, 28 to cause the bearing material to flow radially into the groove 16 in the inner race 12. This same technique'of forming the bearing material around the bearing race can be used even though the inner race is not grooved. After the removal of th squeezing forces the bearing material remains permanently formed into contact with the inner race. The excellently formed inner race becomes, in effect, a mold for the bearing material, and the bearing material consesuently has excellent surface conditions and concentricity where it engaged the inner race. The excellent conditions at the bearing interface contribute in a large measure to the outstanding performance characteristics of the present bearing, as will hereafter be discussed in more detail.

After the bearing material 14 has been squeezed into the groove 16 in the inner race 13 the inner and outer races are locked against axial motion in respect to each other and they may also be virtually locked against rotary motion due to th lack of running clearance at the bearing interface between the bearing material 14 and the inner race. If there is insufficient running clearance it may be established by temporarily deformin either the inner race, or the outer race, or both, within their elastic limit or by radially displacing their position to cause the bearing material 14 to be deformed beyond its elastic limit, thereby to be permanently radially compressed to establish the running clearance. This clearance may be on the order of about .002". In this method it is helpful that the bearing material have a lower elastic limit than the material of the races. .It is essential that neither of.

the races 'be stressed to a degree that it becomes permanently deformed because such a condition destroys the highly important roundness and geometric accuracy of the races.

The integral outer race means and bearing ring shown in FIGURE may be made of powdered iron or other such material having bearing properties which are sufiiciently good for some applications. When such a material is used the outer race 13' and the bearing ring 14 are simultaneously coined to force the bearing ring 14 into engagement with the surface of the inner race.

It is also possible to use powdered metal such as iron for the outer race and to make the bearing ring of a different metallic base bearing material, in which event it may be preferable to co-coin the ou-ter race and the bearing ring to form the bearing material against the inner race.

FIGURES 9 and 10 show a device for stressing the inner race 12 to thereby stress the bearing material beyond its elastic limit. A chuck 30 tightly engages the outside surface of the outer race 13. A tool 31 is pressed down through the opening in the inner race while it is being rotated. Mounted in the lower end of the tool 31 are three rollers 32 whose periphery extends beyond the periphery of the tool 31 by a slight amount on the order of .010". Means 33 are provided in the tool for adjusting the amount by which the rollers 32 extend beyond the limits of the tool 31. As the tool 31 is rotated and pressed down through the inner race it forcibly distorts the inner race within its elastic limit and it compresses the beating material 14 between the inner race 12 and the tightly held outer race 13, causing it to be permanently compressed to establish the required running clearance at the bearing interface. After removal of the tool 31 the inner race springs back to its original shape, concentric with the outer race and with the ring of bearing material. The inner face of the bearing material 14 has been burnished against the face of the groove in the inner race 12, thereby giving it an excellent surface geometry for operating as a lubricated bearing interface in cooperation with the groove face.

FIGURE 11 shows a device wherein the inner race 12 is held by a shaft 35. Jaws 36 and 37 press holding and driving rings 38 and 39 tightly against the bearing material ring 14 and virtually fill the annular grooves 40, 41 between the races. Keys 43 secure shaft 35 to the jaws 36, 37 so that the shaft 35 and the entire bearing assembly 12, 13, 14 can rotate as a unit. A roller 45 is pressed against the outer race 13, thereby transmitting a compressive force through the outer race to the inner race and bearing material interface while relative rotation is established between the bearing assembly and the roller 45. This action uniformly squeezes the bearing material beyond its elastic limit, establishing the required small running clearance at the bearing interface. It is also possible to combine the actions of the devices shown in FIGURES 8 and 11 and simultaneously temporarily distort or displace both the inner and outer races, each i to a small degree, to establish the required running clearance.

As shown in FIGURE 7, after the running clearance has been established, a lubricant such as oil or grease is added to the bearing. In one form the lubricant is added in the form of oil-soaked cellulose wicking material 18 which fills the annular spaces 42 at each face of the unit and which also fills the slots 17. Thus lubricant is always available at the bearing interface, and as the inner race 12 rotates relative to the stationary bearing ring 14 oil is wiped onto the inner raceway. Seals or oil retainers 20 are then applied.

Some of the reasons why this hearing is much more immune to dirt damage is the presence of the wicking behind the dirt seals. This wicking material provides a dirt filtering action. In the embodiment where a concave groove is present in the inner race an inherent centrifugal lubrication circulation path is established that further precludes foreign material entering the clearance space. This action in combination with the filtering action of the lubrication filled wicking material excludes virtually all foreign material from the bearing interface.

This is in contrast to the inherent action of spherical inner raced rod end bearings and rolling contact bearings all of which tend to induce foreign material into their working surface by centrifugal action.

A wide variety of metallic base bearing materials may be used depending upon the application to which the bearing is to be put. It is preferable that the carefully formed inner race be made-of a high grade of steel. The outer race may be made of steel or it may be made of sintered powdered iron or other materials to reduce cost or provide other desirable properties. The ring of bearing material may be sintered powdered iron in which event it may be integral with the outer race. However, under the most severe load and speed conditions, the presence of an excellent boundary condition bearing material with high heat transfer capability, combined with the highly refined micro-geometry and other features of this design are required. An outstanding family of materials from which the bearing ring preferably can be made, and meeting the above requirements, is disclosed and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,081,196, issued to Robert J. MacDonald on March 12, 1963. Qf the numerous examples disclosed in that patent perhaps the best material is a copper matrix into which is incorporated a lead-oxide base mixture of SiO,, in a range from 1 to 28%. Reference also may be made to U.S. patent application Serial No. 252,937, now Patent No. 3,205,565, Robert J. MacDonald, Sintered Rubbing Contact Material and Method for Making Same, for further information on how to make the bearing material.

Powdered aluminum and aluminum alloys also could be used for the bearing ring. A very wide range of bearing materials is available depending upon the service to which the bearing is to be put. Thus, porous bearing materials may be satisfactory for lightly loaded applications. For highly loaded uses the self-lubricating porous materials are unsatisfactory becauseunder these conditions-such materials will not operate hydrodynamically. For high load applications the bearing material may be porous before it is coined into engagement with the inner race, but after the coining operation the ring should be substantially non-porous.

The single most important problem in the design of a sliding surface, self-contained bearing is its operating temperature. High operating temperatures severely reduce lubricant and seal life, load capacity, and lubrication retention. In addition, high operating temperatures result in thermal expansion problems giving rise to clearance control, and press fit ditfculties.

Prior art self-contained bearings have been unable to operate under severe load-speed conditions because of unfavorable ratios of heat generation to heat dissipation factors inherent to their structure and configurations. It is obvious that the configuration of the two races and the bearing ring can be used with a circulating oil system, or in an oil bath where the following factors may have important effects. However, it is in the self-contained configuration of the bearing of the present invention where these factors assume critical significance.

Tests have indicated that minimum coefiicient of friction occurs at the maximum load which the bearing can carry hydrodynamically. This indicates that the thinner the oil film the lower the coefiicient of friction. The load carrying capacity goes up as the inverse square of the film thickness. In order to achieve low coefiicient of friction concurrently with high load carrying capacity it is essential to refine the surfaces of the inner race and the bearing ring at the bearing interface so that the surfaces are extremely accurate, with a minimum surface waviness and lobing as well as having superior surface finish. This accuracy has been called by the Bureau of Standards micro-geometry. This term includes small irregularities such as surface roughness, and surface waviness as well as the larger profile and contour deviations.

Part of this invention includes the discovery that high penformance sliding surface bearings are greatly dependent on surface accuracy of the mating parts at the bearing interface, and that certain aspects of this micro-geometry affect bearing performance in different Ways. Thus, load capacity, vibration, wear, break-in characteristics, friction and heat generation are each affected to different degress by the various aspects of the micro-geometry. A further part of this invention is the discovery that the rate of occurrence or frequency of micro-geometry irregularities have large effects on the quality of a sliding surface bearing. Previous work has pointed out the importance of a small segment of microgeometry on performance, namely surface finish. However, as part of this invention it has been discovered that bearing performance is not only affected by the finely separated irregularities referred to as surface finish but that the performance is also grossly affected by other frequencies of deviations. As a further discovery of this invention it has been determined that a truly high performance bearing cannot be made if the micro geometry is above about .000030 of an inch.

In this invention a unique performance level is obtainable within the required dimensional confines of the bearing envelope necessitated by a specific shaft size. This is accomplished by:

('1) Reduction of the diameter of the bearing interface to the limitation imposed only by structural integrity of a one-piece inner race.

(2) By the use of a substantially solid, rigid metal base bearing material of good heat transferability and good boundary characteristics which provides the shortest possible heat transfer path between the bearing interface and the outer race.

(3) Generating satisfactory levels of microgeometry at the bearing interface such that with a bearing axial length not exceeding that of a comparable rolling contact bearing hydrodynamic operation is maintained at bearing loads of the same order of magnitude.

(4) The ultimate configuration entails the refinement of the interface micro-geometry to the point where hydrodynamic operation can be maintained up to the yield point of the bearing material.

Refinement of the bearing surfaces means that at a given load the oil viscosity can be reduced thereby to minmize friction and reduce the amount of heat generated. With sufliciently refined surfaces even with the use of low viscosity lubricants that decrease heat generation the load carrying capacity and metallic separation is sustained. This means that either the axial length of the bearing can be reduced, or the diameter of the bearing interface can be reduced for a given load, or a combination of both can be employed. Since heat generation goes up as the cube of the diameter of the bearing interface, it is important for high performance bearings to minmize that diameter to further reduce the heat generation. One preferred form of the bearing of the present invention has a groove in its inner race to minimize diameter, provide thrust capability and to lock the assembly together at the bearing interface. The bearing ring operates in this groove with hydrodynamic lubrication on a minimum oil film which is capable of being below .000020".

A good sliding surface bearing cannot be made by merely designing into it low heat generating ability. In addition it is essential that the heat which is generated be effectively taken away, otherwise the operating temperature rises with consequent thinning of the oil. This leads to loss of hydrodynamic operation with consequent increase in friction due to boundary lubricating conditions. Further increase in heat is experienced leading to numerous bearing troubles such as expansion of the hearing material, marginal lubrication, oil deterioration, wear,

etc. In an open bearing configuration with circulating oil flow, the lubricant serves to carry away the majority of generated heat. configuration heat dissipation becomes one of the critical limiting factors. In the described invention heat dissipa tion is effectively accomplished at high PV values through use of the substantially solid, high thermal conductivity metallic bearing ring outer race combination. The outer race is in engagement with a metal housing so that the ability to transmit large quantities of heat to'the housing is at a maximum. Many of the prior art bearings failed to achieve commercial success due to inadequate provision for heat transfer resulting from:

(1) Wicking material or an air space or the like establishing an insulating blanket between the bearing interface and the outside race.

(2) Failure to provide a material of high thermal conductivity in efficient heat transfer contact with the outer race.

(3) Failure to provide a design where low resistance heat transfer paths exist.

Thus there is provided a sliding surface substantially hydrodynamically lubricated bearing which can have approximately the same size and shape as any one of a very large variety of rolling contact bearings, and wherein the ring of bearing material is in bearing engagement with the raceway of an inner race which is the full equivalent of the raceway of a rolling contact bearing, Whether it be a ball bearing, a tapered, straight or barrel-shaped roller bearing, or any of a Wide variety of rolling contact bearings. If the raceway has excellent micro-geometry, and if the bearing face of the ring has excellent microgeometry, an outstanding sliding surface bearing is achieved. The bearing has low heat generating characteristics and since the ring forms a substantially solid metallic heat transfer path from the bearing interface to the outer race it has excellent heat transfer characteristics.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In the method of making a sliding surface bearing for use with. an axially extending shaft which comprises the steps of: providing an inner bearing race having a groove in its outer circumferential face; providing around said inner bearing race an outer bearing race; positioning between said inner and outer bearing races an annular ring of formable metallic base bearing material having a plurality of axially extending slots in its inner face; permanently axially deforming said annular ring to cause it to flow radially into said groove in said inner race to lock said two races together against axial movement in respect to each other, the amount of said deformation being insufficient to completely close said slots in its inner face; and thereafter radially deforming at least one of said races within its elastic limit to stress said bearing material beyond its elastic limit to free said bearing for rotary motion of one race in respect to the other at said groove.

2. In the method of making a sliding surface sleeve bearing for use with an axially extending shaft which comprises the steps of: providing an inner bearing race having a groove in its outer circumferential face; providing around said inner bearing race an outer bearing race; positioning between said inner and outer bearing races an annular ring of formable metallic base bearing material having a plurality of axially extending slots in its inner face; permanently deforming said annular ring to cause it to flow radially into said groove in said inner face to lock said tworaces together against axial move- However, in an enclosed bearing ment in respect to each other, the amount of said deformation being insufficient to completely close said slots in its inner face; and thereafter by rolling pressure between the two races radially deforming at least one of said races within-its elastic limit to stress said bearing material beyond its elastic limit to free said bearing for rotary motion of one race in respect to the other at said groove.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, further characterized by simultaneously exerting rolling pressure on both said inner and outer bearing races to radially deform said bearing material.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2, further characterized by exerting rolling pressure on said inner bearing race to radially deform said bearing material.

5. The method as set forth in claim 2, further characterized by exerting rolling pressure on said outer bearing race to radially deform said bearing material.

6. In the method of making a sliding surface bearing for use with a shaft which comprises the steps of: providing an inner bearing race having an outer circumferential face, providing around said inner bearing race an outer bearing race; positioning between said inner and outer bearing races an annular ring of formable bearing material having a plurality of axially extending lubricating slots in one of its faces engaging a race, permanently axially deforming said annular ring of bearing material to cause it to flow radially against the outer circumferential face of said inner race, the amount of said deformation being insufficient to completely close said slots in its face; and thereafter radially stressing at least one of said races with respect to the other race and within its elastic limit to stress said bearing material beyond its elastice limit to free said bearing for rotary motion of one race in respect to the other to establish metallic base bear-ing material which is more readily formable than the material of said inner bearing race means and having a plurality of axially extending lubrieating slots in its inner face; permanently deforming said bearing material to cause it to flow radially into said groove to lock the two race means together against axial movement in respect to each other, the amount of said deformation being insufficient to completely close said slots in its face; and thereafter radially deforming at least one of said race means within its elastic limit to stress said bearing material beyond its elastic limit to establish a small, carefully controlled finite clearance at said groove to free said bearing for rotary motion of one race in respect to the other race.

8. The method of making a sliding surface bearing as set forth in claim 7, further characterized by axially deforming said bearing material to cause it to flow into said groove.

9. In the method of making a sliding surface bearing for use with an axially extending shaft which comprises the steps of: providing an inner bear-ing race means having an outer face; providing an outer bearing race means around said inner race; positioning between said race means an annular ring of bearing material which is more readily formable than the material of said race means and having a plurality of axially extending lubricating slots; permanently axially deforming said annular ring of bearing material to cause it to flow radially against said race means, the amount of said deformation being insufficient to completely close said slots; and thereafter cyclically radially deforming at least one of said race means within its elastic limit to stress said annular ring of bearing material beyond its elastic limit to free said bearing for rotary motion of one race means in respect to the said ring of bearing material adjacent said lubricating slots.

10. In the method of making a sliding surface bearing the steps which comprise: forming an inner race having a smooth circular outer face which is a surface of revolution; compressing bearing material having lubricating slots therein against said outer face of said inner race causing the inner face of said bearing material substantially to conform to the smoothness and circular shape of said outer face without completely closing said lubricating slots; and establishing running clearance between said inner race and said bearing material by holding said bearing material and temporarily stressing said inner race within its elastic limit and through said race to stress said bearing material beyond its elastic limit without destroying said smoothness and circular conformation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,141 1/1903 Monson et a1. 30836 2,127,854 8/1938 Bath et a1 308-121 2,252,351 8/1941 Paulus 29- -l49.5 2,476,728 7/1949 Heim 29l49.5 2,611,665 9/1952 Derbyshire 308161 2,626,841 1/ 1953 Potter 30872 2,704,230 3/1955 Roschlau 30836 2,724,172 11/1955 Potter 29l49.5 2,804,679 9/1957 Tracy 29l49.5 3,085,312 4/1963 Evans 29l49.5

0 WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner. 

1. IN THE METHOD OF MAKING A SLIDING SURFACE BEARING FOR USE WITH AN AXIALLY EXTENDING SHAFT WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: PROVIDING AN INNER BEARING RACE HAVING A GROOVE IN ITS OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIAL FACE; PROVIDING AROUND SAID INNER BEARING RACE AN OUTER BEARING RACE; POSITIONING BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER BEARING RACES AN ANNULAR RING OF FORMABLE METALLIC BASE BEARING MATERIAL HAVING A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY EXTENDING SLOTS IN ITS INNER FACE; PERMANENTLY AXIALLY DEFORMING SAID ANNULAR RING TO CAUSE IT TO FLOW RADIALLY INTO SAID GROOVE IN SAID INNER RACE TO LOCK SAID TWO RACES TOGETHER AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT IN RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, THE AMOUNT OF SAID DEFORMATION BEING INSUFFICIENT TO COMPLETELY CLOSE SAID SLOTS IN ITS INNER FACE; AND THEREAFTER RADIALLY DEFORMING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID RACES WITHIN ITS ELASTIC LIMIT TO STRESS SAID BEARING MATERIAL BEYOND ITS ELASTIC LIMIT TO FREE SAID BEARING FOR ROTARY MOTION OF ONE RACE IN RESPECT TO THE OTHER AT SAID GROOVE. 